To Market We Go

Promoter Tiffany Palmer aimed “to create a place where the colourful and cool music-loving tribe of Sydney could meet, check each other out, dance with each other, enjoy some of Australia’s best bands live and buy the unique, hard-to-find things they love”. She’s certainly achieved just that, the Sydney Rock ’N’ Roll & Alternative Market now being one of the biggest shows in town, occurring roughly every two months.

There’ll be loads of stalls selling alternative and vintage clothing, accessories, music, posters, DVDs, homewares and collectables. And to provide a soundtrack (or the main entertainment after you’ve emptied your wallet) will be a retro-flavoured line-up. Add to that an outdoor bar with DJs spinning tunes all day, a vintage car display, an array of international food, giant kids’ board games and more, with an entry fee of $5 (kids under 12 free) and you’ve got a ridiculously sweet Sunday sorted.

So why include it as part of the Fringe Festival? “The Fringe is a perfect fit for our market and fabulous audience, who love inner Sydney’s alternative culture and live music. We were previously a Fringe event in 2010, however this is the first year since that our dates have coincided with the festival so we jumped at the chance to be involved again!” says Palmer.

This time around, the line-up includes the rockabilly and roots stylings of Pat Capocci, rowdy five-piece Twin Beasts, blues-rockin’ doo-wop country group The Drey Rollan Band, swing-tinged blues-rocker That Red Head, plus DJs Limpin’ Jimmy & The Swingin Kitten, Rockin’ Marc Rondeau, The Crimplenes and Solid Gold Hell DJs.

And what’s Palmer excited to see in this year’s Fringe program (if her busy schedule allows)? “As many shows as I have time to see. Mic Conway’s National Junk Band and Textile Audio Plays Punk look like a hoot.”